Camera Labs

Hi folks,

CSC Magazine (Googlish) seem pretty confident that Hasselblad will be releasing a new camera at Photokina.

The machine translation loses the subtleties of course and it's not clear to me whether they are also confidently predicting that this new camera will be mirrorless (I don't think the term CSC will apply even if they do ditch the mirror) or just another variation on the current range. Never having had the pleasure of owning a Hasselblad I'm probably talking out of my hat but my assumption is that for MF cameras the attraction of doing away with the mirror is simply to simplify the mechanicals and has nothing to do with reducing overall camera size, something that would only really be possible if they also introduced a new lens system with a smaller flange distance. I wonder if they'll use a CMOS sensor and what the reaction will be if they do!

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

The greatest problem with medium format mirrors is that they tend to be quite heavy and cause a lot more vibration than the ones of 35 mm systems. Since film had a tendency to respond in a non-linear manner during exposure, images came out a lot sharper than they do with digital backs. Especially on classic systems like the V series from Hasselblad the rule of thumb now is to choose a shutter speed with a denominator more than three times the size of the focal length. So instead of the usual 1/100 sec. exposure one would use with a standard lens (80 mm) it is now more like 1/300 sec these days. This is also why there are so many 500 series photographers constantly using mirror lock-up.

Hasselblad's newer H system incorporates AF, which is nothing like fast and responsive DSLR AF, but one of the better medium format AF systems out there. The one certainty I know of is that they are losing market share and are quite desperate. Their entry-system H4D-31 has just recently been reduced to only £7.995 (see: http://www.hasselblad.co.uk/promotions/camera-prices.aspx). Either they have a surprise up their sleeves for Photokina or it really is that bad.